Waterproof shield



June 28, 1955 M. PETITPASY 2,711,736

WATERPRQOF SHIELD Filed J n. 18, 1954 INVENTOR.

MARTHE PETITPAS 2,711,736 Patented June 28, 1955 ice WATERPROQF SHED!) Marthe Petitpas, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application lanuary 18, 1954, Serial No. 404,691

6 Claims. (Cl. 128-286) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in waterproof shields for infants or adults for use in place of rubber pants, diapers and the like.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of a waterproof shield which will fit securely between the legs of a baby and having a hidden pocket with means therein removably to hold absorbent material for absorbing urine without chafing or causing any of the results of chafing. I

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the waterproof shield so that a child wearing it will be kept dry constantly,,in comfort, and without any stomach or back contact with dampness such as commonly occurs with diapers and panties.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the waterproof shield so that once absorbent material therein is wet, the dampness stays at the bottom of the pocket in the shield.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the shield with absorbent material confining members constructed and arranged so as to prevent any shifting or displacement of the absorbent material removably held in the pocket in the shield.

The present invention further proposes constructing and arranging the shield parts so that no undue pressure is caused on any part of the child's body and so that air is not prevented from passing through the shield.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of an infant wearing the waterproof shield of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the shield itself with absorbent material therein.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 but with the straps unfastened.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the shield showing one strap unfastened.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

The waterproof shield, in accordance with the first form of the invention shown'in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, has a kidney-shaped body of thin, flexible material with upturned sides 16 and 17 and front and rear portions 18 and 19, respectively. Straps 20 and 21 extend from the front portion 18 of the body 15. Preferably the straps 2t} and 21 are integrally connected with the front portion 18 of the body 15 and of the same material. Also, preferably such material is soft rubber or other soft elastic material.

Sides 16 and 17, straps 20 and 21, and front and rear potrions 18 and 19 of the body all have soft rolled edges 22, 23, 24 and 25. Straps 20 and 21 have spaced openings or holes 26 at their free ends and retainer posts 27 and 28 are mounted on the outside of body 15 at the rear portion 19 thereof. The openings 26 in the straps stretch open over the retainer posts 27 and 28 removably to connect the straps to the rear portion 19 of the body. A childs legs extend through the openings 29 and 30 (see Fig. 2) between the straps and the sides 16 and 17 of the shield body 15.

The sides 16 and 17 and the front and rear portions 18 and 19 of the body 15 form a pocket 31 inside the body 15 removably to receive and hold absorbent material 32, such as cotton. The replaceable filler or pad of absorbent material 32 is held in place in the bottom of the pocket 31 by inverted V-shaped spaced absorbent material confining members 33 and 34.

Preferably, the absorbent material confining members 33 and 34 are of the same material as the body 15 being molded with it and raised from the inside surfaces thereof.

Two of the absorbent material confining members 33 are raised on the body 15 and disposed at the sides 15 and 16 thereof adjacent the peripheries or rolled edges 22 and 23 thereof. Two of the members 34 are disposed at the front portion 18 and two more of the members 34 are disposed at the rear portion 19 inside the body 15 adjacent the peripheries or rolled edges 24 and 25 thereof.

The inverted V-shaped members 33 at the sides 15 and 16 of the body 15 have legs spread at a greater angle than the members 34. The absorbent material 32 fits between the members 33 and 34 and is kept in place thereby against shifting or otherwise being dislodged from the bottom of the pocket 31.

The modification of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 6 is characterized by the provision of a body 35 similarly formed as body 15 shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and described above but having ventilation perforations 35 above the absorbent material confining members 38 and 39. All the other parts are given reference numerals the same as their counterparts in Figs. 1 to 5 but primed to distinguish the figures.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent l. A waterproof shield comprising a kidney-shaped body with a pocket inside removably to receive and hold absorbent material, spaced absorbent material confining members on the body inside thereof adjacent the peripheries of the pocket, said body having front and rear portions with connecting straps and means removably to hold one end of each strap to said body, said body and said straps being of elastic, flexible material and said absorbent material confining members being inverted V-shaped and of the same material raised on the body.

2. A waterproof shield comprising a kidney-shaped body with a pocket inside removably to receive and hold absorbent material, spaced absorbent material confining members on the body inside thereof adjacent the peripheries of the pocket, said body having front and rear portions with connecting straps and means removably to hold one end of each strap to said body, said body and said straps being of flexible, elastic material and said absorbent material confining members being inverted V-shaped and of the same material, two of said absorbent material confining members being disposed at each of the front and rear portions of said body.

3. A waterproof shield for infants comprising a kidneyshaped body of thin, flexible material with upturned sides and front and rear portions to form a pocket inside, said sides and front and rear portions having rolled edges, straps extending from the front portion of the body of flexible, elastic material, retainer posts mounted on the outside of the body at the rear portion thereof, said straps having spaced openings therein for stretching open over the retainer posts removably to connect the straps to the. rear portion of the body, and spaced absorbent material confining members on the body inside thereof adjacent the peripheries of said sides and front and rear portions, said members being inverted V-shaped.

4. A waterproof shield for infants comprising a kidneyshaped body of thin, flexible material with upturned sides and front and rear portions to form a pocket inside, said sides and front and rear portions having rolled edges, straps extending from the front portion of the body of flexible, elastic material, retainer posts mounted on the outside of the body at the rear portion thereof, said straps having spaced openings therein for stretching open over the retainer posts removably to connect the straps to the rear portion of the body, and spaced absorbent material confining members on the body inside thereof adjacent the peripheries of said sides and front and rear portions, said members being inverted V-shaped, two of said members being disposed at each of the sides and front and rear portions of the body, said members at the sides of said body having legs spread at a greater angle than the others of said members.

5. A waterproof shield for infants comprising a kidneyshaped body with a pocket inside removably to receive and hold absorbent material, spaced absorbent material confining members on the body inside thereof adjacent the peripheries of the pocket, said body having front and rear portions with connecting straps and means removably to hold one end of each strap to said body, said body having ventilation perforations above the absorbent material confining members.

6. A Waterproof shield for infants comprising a kidneyshaped body of thin, flexible material with upturned sides and front and rear portions to form a pocket inside, said sides and front and rear portions having rolled edges, straps extending from the front portion of the body of flexible, elastic material, retainer posts mounted on the outside of the body at the rear portion thereof, said straps having spaced openings therein for stretching open over the retainer posts removably to connect the straps to the rear portion of the body, and spaced absorbent material confining members on the body inside thereof adjacent the peripheries of said sides and front and rear portions, said members being inverted V-shaped, two of said members being disposed at each of the sides and front and rear portions of the body, said members at the sides of said body having legs spread at a greater angle than the others of said members, said body having ventilation perforations above the absorbent material confining members.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 168,515 Meacom Oct. 5, 1875 924,644 Daudt June 15, 1909 FOREIGN PATENTS 659,750 Great Britain Oct. 24, 1951 944,721 France Nov. 8, 1948 

